White Holme Reservoir

A long stint at White Holme Reservoir hoping for Daniel B's Little Stint but very much aware  that it had probably moved on, and it probably has!!

I parked on the rough ground below the White House Inn on Rochdale road and followed the Pennine Way past Blackstone Edge Reservoir on a good track.

The weather was awful for a time then very nice then awful for a time, all afternoon.

In between the nasty stuff the outing was very enjoyable if very wet.

About 20 people, most with dogs, were out and about which was a 'surprise!'.

Arriving at the West side of the reservoir I went SE and then NE along the reservoirs edge / path to the very end.

I retraced my steps and then headed off SE which leads to Turvin Road.

A right here leads to Rochdale Road although this is a very fast road without much protection from would be Ayrton Senna's.

A right along the pavement at Rochdale Rd was safer and took me back to the White House Inn.

The hike was a lot further that I'd thought!

Birds:-

Tough going early on ,with 2 sets of dog walkers near, with just 2 Dunlin distant on the black muddy stuff.

Meadow Pipits were flitting about and 4 or so Swift were battling a big lasher of a shower.

A couple of Pied Wagtail were at the SE corner and I was glad I persevered right to the NE end where 2 distant birds were present.

One was another Dunlin.

On the return bit, the heavens opened again and nothing was seen until I got back on the west side 'beach'. Here a Common Sandpiper was running along the waters edge.

The journey back to the car had a few Meadow Pipits, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, 2 Pied Wagtail and another Common Sandpiper was on the rocks at the very NE end of Blackstone Reservoir.

A really enjoyable outing - even with the soaking.